vintage paper/collage art – Page 6

More projects from my fab,1920s wallpaper, lucky find! And hoarding pays off.

By Karla Nathan / March 26, 2018

This paper is just lovely, isn't it? I've enjoyed working with it, and couldn't resist making some more pieces with it.

For about 10 years, I'd been hoarding an address book that had a compartment for notes, knowing it could be something someday- it had good bones. I finally figured out this use for it, making the compartment at the bottom into a treasure box.

Then turning the address book part into a book, by demolishing it, throwing away the pages, and using the remnants to reassemble into a book.

I knew it was worth saving that old address book for years and years! Now I have vindication to continue hoarding stockpiling supplies that could someday be something, right???

This is the back of the book.

And here is the inside. The pages are blank.

This is the interior of the box.

Yummy, yummy Good Stuff was used throughout.

The book and treasure box are both in the Boutique. As are a few more packs of the wallpaper. The scrap packs sold out over the weekend, but the art journal includes a mini scrap pack to use in finishing the book.

Vintage Wallpaper Art Journals and a giveaway

Books, give away, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 18, 2018

Here are some of the wallpaper journals available in the Boutique now. Each comes with a scrap pack of more of the great, old paper for you to use as you create in your new journal.

And if you leave a comment here, or on my Facebook post announcing the giveaway, you can be entered to win some of this wonderful,1920s paper.

I will be out in Wyoming visiting family for a few days, so shipping will be Wednesday, March 21st. Thank you for looking!

A rare find- never ending rolls of old wallpaper on a junking day!

antiques/junking, Books, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / March 16, 2018

Beth and I had a morning out at estate sales and the Old West Bottoms antique district, and while out, I hit paydirt. Again, and again!

Which is pretty rare, to find such old, and wonderful wallpaper at an estate sale then turn around and find more at a shop, that wasn't even an antique or vintage store.

(Well, that scene isn't all that wonderful, is it? But the black, graphic background is really pretty, even though the drawing reminds me of the Sunday funny papers).

This makes up for the goofy cartoon scenes.

Most of the papers have metallic elements.

And many have GLITTER!

The only problem is that they are extremely old and fragile. I ironed a lot of it to use, and discovered that it is best for small projects. So I cut up some smaller, scrap packs to sell in the Boutique.

I'm in love!

I had to make something out of it, right away.

So, I covered this box, inside and outside with some of the glittery goodness.

These piles are the scrap packs I told you about. Some are for sale in the Boutique, ($14) one is for a giveaway to celebrate my find (details to come in my next post).

The rest will be included with the purchase of the art journals that I made with the fab papers.

You can find the books here.

As well as a few other finds, and some bargain markdowns that I put on sale.

But please be patient with me for shipping if you'd like to order something. I'm headed to Wyoming to see family and will be sending out boxes on Wednesday next week.

Romantic Valentine Craft Day- 2 classes, 3 ways at Karla’s Cottage Coming Up!

bird song art event, Valentine's Day, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / January 12, 2018

On Saturday, February 3rd, I'll be hosting two mini workshops in the studio. You have the option of attending the morning class, afternoon class, or both with a luncheon and card making session in between.

This sugared dove nests in a bundle of vintage netting set into a heart shaped tart tin. She features vintage laces and trims, ruffled crepe paper, and millinery blossoms picked from my garden of flowering hats.

(Due to the number of heart shaped tins that I gathered from estate sales, this class will be limited in size)

The afternoon class is a candy box, made from a small Russell Stover candy box transformed into a keepsake.

(And yes, the candy inside is for you!) This photo will be included (along with everything you need to complete your piece) but other old photos will be available to choose from if you'd care for another picture.

I will offer this one in:

Warm Whites

Rosey Pinks

Romantic Reds

We will paint the boxes, cover them in vintage papers, lace, and velvet ribbons before adding a lovely lady to the lid and adorning her with millinery blooms and rhinestones.

As with all of my projects, I believe in using THE GOOD STUFF.

Vintage supplies, hand glittered birds, old photos scanned and printed onto high quality papers, sparkling rhinestones, and soft velvets, of course!!!

You will get a printed sheet of phrases in different fonts and sizes to pick the words that mean the most to you, so that you can personalize your artwork. Also feel free to bring anything from home to add to the piece and change it as you'd like. Since many of my supplies are vintage, the kits will vary a bit in looks, but will be equal in value.

The kits will be complete with all you need to create your heart shaped treasure. All you need to bring are scissors and glue. I'd suggest a regular pair of scissors and a small, detail pair too.

Sweets, and beverages will be served throughout the day, lunch and card making is included with both classes.

Love Bird:

9:30am til 11:30am,

11:30am- break

11:45- Valentine Card Making (Free time, with guidance if needed, make as many as you'd like. Examples will be on display to help get your creative juices flowing as you make your own holiday cards.)

1pm- lunch (home made, fresh, and organic)

Candy Box:

Please join the earlier class for card making at 11:45 and lunch at 1pm.

2:30- 4:30- class

Please come 10-15 minutes early to get settled.

Costs:

Bird/Cards/Lunch- $50

Cards/Lunch/Candy Box- $50

Combined day with both classes- $90

To sign up, please email me at:

karlanathan@sbcglobal.net

I'd love to see you here!

PS- if you are looking for an excuse to visit the Kansas City area, the Old West Bottoms Antique District is open for their First Friday sale dates. It features some of the best junking you will find.

Girlfriends’ Craft Day- the holiday edition, glitz and sparkle time!

friends, holiday decor, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / January 9, 2018

Tami and I got to be friends through Birdsong, and a group of local-ish Peeps who met through our crafty weekends got to be close. Tami has coordinated many get togethers for us to gather together and have some girlfriend time.

She sets up space in her basement studio and offers up a generous and (eye popping) array of supplies as well as some ideas for projects.

This is a lid to a chewing gum tin I've spiffed up with one of the little angels she had out for us to use.

I used another one in this little mint box.

I'd brought supplies of my own to use too, and got quite a few ornies made. This one is sold, the others were for gifts. The glass dome on this is from an old clock, I had a few, but not as many as I'd like! It would be nice to find a big pile of those to play with.

One I used to make a gift for Guncle Kevin, the other I put together as a kit for Guncle Randy to make one for himself.

Since I had some specific gifts to get done, I didn't participate in a mini class Tami offered for the morning.

But I sure enjoyed watching the others make theirs.

Cute, huh?

Beth numbered hers in sections to use as a journal/calendar.

The day goes by way too fast, and I usually have to rush back to Lawrence for family something or others, and am jealous when some of the rest of the group turns it into a sleepover!

Some weekend, I'll just have to make that work somehow. Because there is never enough time to treasure with good friends!

New Christmas goodies in the Boutique

fairies, holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / December 9, 2017

I've had quite a few samples of holiday decor made up for A Snowbird's Song and some extra decorations for the Holiday Home Tour.

Now that both have passed, I'm trying to get photos of the pretties to add to the Boutique.

Here are some Sugar Plum fairies as individual ornaments (the banners have sold, there might be a kit left, please contact me if you'd like one, karlanathan@sbcglobal.net).

And a few more festive pieces too.

And some of the "Pretty Packages" ornaments that I made as examples for A Snowbird's Song.

There are quite a few of the decorated and filled boxes (I realluy had fun making those!) and a couple of kits left too.

I've also added some of the hand painted rose eggs.

They are decoupaged in vintage text, glazed, painted, glittered, then tied up in a silver, vintage ribbon.

Thanks for looking!

Mermaid craft day (and a redo that helps a little bit at least)

friends, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / August 20, 2017

For the last couple of years, Tami has been inviting a group of local ladies who met and became buddies at Birdsong, over for craftdays themed for the season. She goes ALL OUT, way, way out, on making us welcome. For our summertime get together, she filled her house with seashells and gave us a beachy get away right in the middle of Kansas.

She is also, way, way over the top generous with the supplies she provides and projects she plans.

I chose to make a mermaid from Sculpy clay and seated her in a shell chair. I wasn't too worried about the thick neck, sunken shoulders and wormy arms, knowing that she would have flowing, wool roving hair and be holding some things in her hands so those parts wouldn't show much.

Over all, I was pretty happy with my sculpture.

And I loved the shell "easy chair" made with coral and a half shell.

I also wasn't too worried about the texture of her tail, since I was going to cover it in mica flakes.

But maybe I should have worried a little bit more….

ugh

Or should I just say, UGLY?

This mermaid should probably slip her head right back under the waves.

Some days, we just have to face it that what we make isn't as good as what we make other days, right?

Even the crown that I worked on isn't very pretty. I've only shown a snip of it, it isn't worth showing you the whole thing. Oh well. It was such a fun day with good friends, that I didn't care that my creation was more Creature from the Black Lagoon than Little Mermaid.

Thanks, Tami! I had a blast, as always!!

EDIT

Well, if you know anything about me, you'd notice that I hate an unfinished or bad project. After looking at the photos I posted earlier, I was more than slightly aggravated by how my poor little mermaid had turned out.

So, I sanded some of the bumps in her face, repainted it, added some different colors to her hair and redid the crown as well as what she was holding.

She still isn't the prettiest thing I've ever made, but I feel better about her.

There are things that cannot be fixed, like the way she slumped down into the chair and is sitting at the wrong angle, and the fact that her hips are too narrow, and oh, so many more. Far from perfect, but now I feel like I can place her on my shelf and enjoy her as a memento of a lovely day and not cringe every time I walk by!

An Elf taking a break in the forrest

fairies, guncles, vintage paper/collage art

By Karla Nathan / July 1, 2017

My pal, Beth, had some vintage photos of guys for me to send to Guncle Randy. I needed to make a card for his birthday, so I appropriated one for myself to repurpose.

It started like this, I used green marker on his suit, then metallic pen for polka dots on it and on his tie. The boots became elfin shaped by going over them with a black, sparkly marker and extending the toes into a curled point.

His party hat is vintage paper, decorated, and the buttons are small rhinestones. I then cut him out, inked the edges with brown, and glued him to a woodland scene of old wallpaper that I'd added to the photo folder that he'd come in.

There was a stone wall in the picture of the woods, which was perfect to seat him on! But the piece of paper wasn't quite big enough, so I added a strip of vintage paper below that, and decorated it with a butterfly stamp.

The rest of the inside of the folder is covered in nature inspired, vintage wallpaper, and the edges are rubbed with copper ink. I made a "happy birthday" message to glue to the bottom segment.

The folder can become a stand, too.

As a last touch, I glued brown, velvet ribbon over the seam, and some metal fairy and dragonfly charms to fly around him.

Happy Birthday, Guncle Randy!

Yep, more banners! And kits for springtime banners too

holiday decor, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / March 11, 2017

I do tend to obsess.

When I start making something, I GO FOR IT!

Ah, but do you blame me? Lovely old wallpapers, soft faded ribbons, aged millinery, luscious laces, darling images, THE GOOD STUFF, is all soooooooo wonderful to work with.

And I'd say many of you agree with me, I appreciate all of the orders for kits!

So, I made up a couple more.

All in sweet, spring colors.

But this is it for now, at least. I will be shipping till Wednesday, then I am packing up some other delightfully wonderful beauties and flying off to Florida. I'll be taking the two grand fairies to Disneyworld, all by ourselves!

After that, we get a week at the beach with my husband who will meet us there.

So, all orders after Tuesday night, the 14th, will be mailed on Tuesday the 28th after I get home and my bags are unpacked, I'll pack up orders that come in while I am away. Which still gives you time to create your artwork before Easter.

( I started to delete sold items, but thought maybe the guests who purchased the kits would appreciate seeing the photos again when they start to assemble, so please excuse all of the "sold" items in the store right now)

Plus some are Spring, not all are Easter, you have plenty of time for those, right?

I've also added a few trims to the Boutique.

Lotsa rick racks…

And some hem facing lace…

As well as a big ole pile of cotton bias tape. This bag of cotton ribbon stuff is free if you pay the postage. I don't use it, but couldn't bring myself to toss it away, I knew someone would like it. Normally, my Boutique is only filled with things I personally would like to use myself. I have a rule in buying things, that if I don't want to accidentally get stuck with it if no one else wants it, I shouldn't buy it for resale. It is like an endorsement of something to me. To sell something to you is the same thing as saying, hey, I like this and you might too.

But every once in a while I get supplies that aren't some thing that I would use, sometimes they come in a package of something else, or a box at an auction. Anyway, I ended up with a stock pile of these and I have never used them, but they are old, I treasure old things and hate to throw them away. If you have a use for them, they are yours for the price of postage (they weigh over a pound so i t will be priority mail.)

PS- Please note that I do refund excess shipping on all orders after I have packed up boxes and made labels. Someone was freaking out over shipping prices being so high when ordering a bunch of items that were on clearance. Shipping is hard to calculate on my website, so I have just guessed at it, then refund when it goes too high.

I'll leave you with some pics of what I've added to my shop.

Spring Time Banner Kits

the Boutique at Karla's Cottage, vintage paper/collage art, wallpaper

By Karla Nathan / March 10, 2017

Recently, I mentioned that I went through all of my Easter ephemera and wouldn't be able to make any more bunny themed banner kits. So, I worked on a few Spring themed ones instead.

Then, Ta- Dah! I came across a big, ole pile of bunnies, eggs, and other pretties for Easter!

Yay!

And I came up with an idea to turn some little, vintage coin purses into nests.

These are kits, but I also made a couple of banners to sell. They are limited, I didn't have many tiny purses.

Hmmm, maybe I'll get lucky and come across a few more??? (otherwise known as "cleaning the studio")

The kits do not come with instructions, but they are filled with all you need to make the banner yourself with your own creativity and style. If you do not want to do an Easter themed one, you can always save the bunny ephemera for another project and just use the flowers and gems over the precious wallpaper and enjoy the spring time tones.

My supplies are mere suggestions.

I provide the goodies, you delve in and supply the creativity!

I do love building the kits, and curating the colors, wondering how they will be used by the artist who buys them.

On each bag I pack up, I made these nests with faded Easter grass from decades ago. Wouldn't it be cute to glue one onto a banner segment? (these are itsy bitsy, that egg is much smaller than a jelly bean)

Just a little "Thank You" bonus.

Here is one that I made myself. It is available in the Boutique along with the kits, which have been going fast.